Analog vs Lampizator

[Audiocrack]

Hi Rudolph,

You are right of course and in alignment with my comments a few pages back - i.e. blanket tube statements applying to all systems is tricky. That being said, the 242s were indeed night and day in my system. Anyway - let us see what the Kr PX25 now brings as I do have high hopes

Sure and just to be clear: I do not want to dispute at all your and Ked's findings with the 242 valves. Any chance that you or Ked are able to insert Elrog, Takatsuki or Living Voice 300b valves in the Lampi?

 

[bonzo75]

I think I will have to plan to go to Kevin with my dac to compare valves

 

[Audiocrack]

I think I will have to plan to go to Kevin with my dac to compare valves

That is a great idea. Do you think he will be prepared to let you 'play' in his interesting 'audio garden'?

 

[bonzo75]

That is a great idea. Do you think he will be prepared to let you 'play' in his intetesting 'audio garden'?

No idea. He has entertained some though, just for the fun of it

 

[Audiocrack]

No idea. He has entertained some though, just for the fun of it

Well just try. You might consider mentioning my name as an 'audio buddy'; hopefully this helps. Kevin/Lynn and I go back quite some time and I bought my Gakuoh se amps as well as the G8 audio rack from him. And of course lately I ordered inter alia two quods of Living Voice 300b valves.

 

[wisnon]

From Lukasz

To all the users of DHT series DACs: (Lite 7, Big7, Siebener, Golden Gate)

The 242 Tube as such is “compatible” with the circuit and will not damage the DAC and the DAC will not damage the tube.
This concerns all DACs without tube-type toggle switch, and those that have it - in the 101D, 45 position not the 300B or 2A3 position.

HOWEVER the tube 242 is significantly louder than others (also more subjectively dynamic sounding) which may cause:
1. In amplifiers that have analog passive volume control - will require turning them down by two hours
2. Amps having digital or transistor active or opamp active or chip active volume control - may cause saturation and clipping
3. In DACS equipped with volume control will require turning the volume down by 10 dB.
4. Passsive attenuators, transformer volume controls, resistor ladd

ers etc - will just love the increased signals.

If we did not fit the DAC with this tube originally - you are experimenting on your own and don’t be mad at us if you don’t like the result.

Best regards,

LampizatOr Team

 

[bonzo75]

Thanks AC, will do

 

[Audiocrack]

From Lukasz

To all the users of DHT series DACs: (Lite 7, Big7, Siebener, Golden Gate)

The 242 Tube as such is “compatible” with the circuit and will not damage the DAC and the DAC will not damage the tube.
This concerns all DACs without tube-type toggle switch, and those that have it - in the 101D, 45 position not the 300B or 2A3 position.

HOWEVER the tube 242 is significantly louder than others (also more subjectively dynamic sounding) which may cause:
1. In amplifiers that have analog passive volume control - will require turning them down by two hours
2. Amps having digital or transistor active or opamp active or chip active volume control - may cause saturation and clipping
3. In DACS equipped with volume control will require turning the volume down by 10 dB.
4. Passsive attenuators, transformer volume controls, resistor ladd

ers etc - will just love the increased signals.

If we did not fit the DAC with this tube originally - you are experimenting on your own and don’t be mad at us if you don’t like the result.

Best regards,

LampizatOr Team

This is useful info. Thanks Norman.

 

[Audiocrack]

But in the end only the music really counts: two of my 'top five' composers are Debussy and Ravel. Just listened to a Hyperion dsd file recorded by Tony Faulner in March 1999 (Henry Wood Hall London) of the Debussy and Ravel piano trios. What a heavenly music! Listen eg to the Passacaille of the Ravel piano trio: goosebumps!The cello sounds really fantastic on the GG: still hearing some rough edges on the piano and the violin, maybe because the Living Voice 300b valves have only played for about 25 hours or maybe because it is just an old(er) recording. For those who are not familiar with this music, give it a try. What can music be wonderful indeed!

 

[Audiophile Bill]

But in the end only the music really counts: two of my 'top five' composers are Debussy and Ravel. Just listened to a Hyperion dsd file recorded by Tony Faulner in March 1999 (Henry Wood Hall London) of the Debussy and Ravel piano trios. What a heavenly music! Listen eg to the Passacaille of the Ravel piano trio: goosebumps!The cello sounds really fantastic on the GG: still hearing some rough edges on the piano and the violin, maybe because the Living Voice 300b valves have only played for about 25 hours or maybe because it is just an old(er) recording. For those who are not familiar with this music, give it a try. What can music be wonderful indeed!

Hi Rudolph,

Then we have this in common

I too am a big fan of Debussy and Ravel, particularly their piano music tbh. I love the Debussy preludes (as well as the more obvious stuff like La Mer etc). From a Ravel perspective, I can't get enough Gaspard de la nuit and Jeux d'eau. A great redbook recording of late (of the latter and other stuff) comes from Benjamin Grosvenor on Decca: http://www.deccaclassics.com/gb/cat/4783206

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Hi Rudolph,

Then we have this in common

I too am a big fan of Debussy and Ravel, particularly their piano music tbh. I love the Debussy preludes (as well as the more obvious stuff like La Mer etc). From a Ravel perspective, I can't get enough Gaspard de la nuit and Jeux d'eau. A great redbook recording of late (of the latter and other stuff) comes from Benjamin Grosvenor on Decca: http://www.deccaclassics.com/gb/cat/4783206

if you don't have them you need these 2 native Quad Debussy Piano dsd recordings.....

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/1...des_Book_1-DSD_Quad_Rate_112MHz256fs_Download

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/1...des_Book_2-DSD_Quad_Rate_112MHz256fs_Download

 

[Audiophile Bill]

if you don't have them you need these 2 native Quad Debussy Piano dsd recordings.....

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/1...des_Book_1-DSD_Quad_Rate_112MHz256fs_Download

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/1...des_Book_2-DSD_Quad_Rate_112MHz256fs_Download

Thanks a lot Mike - I don't own those.

 

[Audiocrack]

Hi Rudolph,

Then we have this in common

I too am a big fan of Debussy and Ravel, particularly their piano music tbh. I love the Debussy preludes (as well as the more obvious stuff like La Mer etc). From a Ravel perspective, I can't get enough Gaspard de la nuit and Jeux d'eau. A great redbook recording of late (of the latter and other stuff) comes from Benjamin Grosvenor on Decca: http://www.deccaclassics.com/gb/cat/4783206

All the music you mentioned are wonderful pieces, Bill. Probably Debussy was more important than Ravel for the development of (modern) classical music but Ravel's music is so beautiful it keeps me wondering again and again: how is it possible that someone is hearing such gorgeous musical melodies in his head/mind. What a musical genius he was and what a pity he passed away on a relatively young age (as Debussy).

Apart from his piano music I love nearly all Ravel's music, in particular pieces like Rapsodie Espagnol, Ma mere l'oye, Valses nobles et sentimentale and his string quartet. But as I mentioned yesterday, the piano trios of these musical giants are also absolutely wonderful.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

All the music you mentioned are wonderful pieces, Bill. Probably Debussy was more important than Ravel for the development of (modern) classical music but Ravel's music is so beautiful it keeps me wondering again and again: how is it possible that someone is hearing such gorgeous musical melodies in his head/mind. What a musical genius he was and what a pity he passed away on a relatively young age (as Debussy).

Apart from his piano music I love nearly all Ravel's music, in particular pieces like Rapsodie Espagnol, Ma mere l'oye, Valses nobles et sentimentale and his string quartet. But as I mentioned yesterday, the piano trios of these musical giants are also absolutely wonderful.

Hi Rudolph,

I also like the other Ravel pieces you cited - I have numerous recordings of these too. Have you tried the Faure Piano Quartets - you might like these also?

 

[Audiocrack]

Hi Rudolph,

I also like the other Ravel pieces you cited - I have numerous recordings of these too. Have you tried the Faure Piano Quartets - you might like these also?

Thanks Bill. Will have a look into this music. I have never been that much into Faure in all honesty (although I like the Pie Jesu part of his requiem), but I am not familiar with his piano quartets. It is always nice/exciting to discover new (classical) music.

 

[bonzo75]

Hi since you like Ravel also try Le combeau de couperrin...saw Rattle conduct it with LSO earlier and YouTube has a good version of Pierre Boulez, not sure which is the audiophile one

 

[Audiocrack]

Hi since you like Ravel also try Le combeau de couperrin...saw Rattle conduct it with LSO earlier and YouTube has a good version of Pierre Boulez, not sure which is the audiophile one

Should (indeed) have mentioned Le tombeau also as one of Ravel's masterpieces. Thanks Ked. I have numerous recordings of this piece, also by Boulez on DG. But the DG recording is in my view far from top notch.

As regards Debussy: are you guys aware of his La damoiselle elue (a piece he wrote when he was still quite young)? I have the DG 1987 recording with Abbado conducting the LSO and the gorgeous voice of Maria Ewing. Recording engineer was Klaus Hiemann, one of the better DG engineers. Although not one of the most transparant digital recording I quite like it. From the same sources, albeit now the Wiener Philharmoniker, a fine recording of Pelleas et Melisande is a available (again with Maria Ewing).

For DG standards pretty both are good recordings and both performances are just beautiful.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Hi since you like Ravel also try Le combeau de couperrin...saw Rattle conduct it with LSO earlier and YouTube has a good version of Pierre Boulez, not sure which is the audiophile one

Yeah - like Rudolph have many version of Le Tombeau.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Should (indeed) have mentioned Le tombeau also as one of Ravel's masterpieces. Thanks Ked. I have numerous recordings of this piece, also by Boulez on DG. But the DG recording is in my view far from top notch.

As regards Debussy: are you guys aware of his La damoiselle elue (a piece he wrote when he was still quite young)? I have the DG 1987 recording with Abbado conducting the LSO and the gorgeous voice of Maria Ewing. Recording engineer was Klaus Hiemann, one of the better DG engineers. Although not one of the most transparant digital recording I quite like it. From the same sources, albeit now the Wiener Philharmoniker, a fine recording of Pelleas et Melisande is a available (again with Maria Ewing).

For DG standards pretty both are good recordings and both performances are just beautiful.

I am not aware of this Rudolph - will check it out now, thanks. Will seek it on Tidal if it is there.

 

[Audiocrack]

Back from quick dinner out. My system sounds so different than with the previous 300b. If I had to make a decision right now, the Elrog's would be my choice. Much more tonal density and involvement. I feel much less submerged, like I want to move my chair closer to the front wall. I know things will change though, so I really don't even think these things are relevant, although....I don't remember feeling this way when I switched my EmL 300 to Elrog's nor from the EmL 5u to Tak 274. I instantly knew I was keeping the later.

Hello Elesher, any new insights now that your 242 valves have probably somewhat more hours on them? Interesting to hear if you still prefer the Elrog 300b tubes or that your view is maybe changing.